What is the appropriate management for a child diagnosed with bronchiolitis?

For a child diagnosed with bronchiolitis, the appropriate management is supportive therapy with humidified oxygen. Bronchiolitis, most commonly caused by viral infections, particularly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), primarily affects infants and young children, presenting with symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing.

Supportive therapy focuses on maintaining adequate oxygenation and hydration while allowing the child's body to heal from the viral infection. Providing humidified oxygen helps to alleviate respiratory distress by ensuring that airways remain moist, which can ease breathing and improve overall comfort. This approach is especially important in a pediatric population, where maintaining oxygen saturation levels is crucial.

Other treatment options, like corticosteroids or inhaled bronchodilators, are generally not indicated for typical cases of bronchiolitis and may offer limited benefit. Antibiotics are not appropriate because bronchiolitis is primarily viral and does not respond to antibiotics, which are effective only against bacterial infections. Therefore, emphasizing supportive care with interventions like humidified oxygen is the best approach for managing bronchiolitis in pediatrics.